Precious Moments

Summary: Amber welcomes her second child into the world.

Disclaimer: I own Alamea and the new baby (soon to be babies). Nana and Tanya belong to MarionetteJ2X. Everything else is Craig Gerber's.

A/N: Who's ready for some fluff?! I feel like, after the chaos that was TCWR, we could all use a bit of fun and happiness now. 😊 Sofia is home, safe and sound, and her baby is doing fine, so now let's bring Amber's baby into the light. 😉 Also, Happy Mother's Day! I definitely planned this to make it posted on a very appropriate holiday. Haha.

*Story*

November 16 was a perfectly normal day, with temperatures declining rapidly outside as the autumn season was past its midway point. Winter was a little over a month away, but one would be forgiven if he or she believe it was already here.

Cedric and Sofia were fast asleep in their bedroom, given that it was around 6:00 AM, but they were pulled out of their slumber when they heard a barrage of soft knocks on the door.

"Right on time," Sofia mumbled into Cedric's neck, sighing softly as he chuckled and moved to vacate the bed. "Not sure how I feel about this new little 'routine' of theirs…"

In fact, since just a few days ago, Tanya and Nana had made it a daily habit to visit their parents at this precise time. Tanya had mentioned on that first day that they wanted to spend some more time with Cedric and Sofia, just having some quiet time to read or snuggle, or something of that nature, before the new baby was born. Both the princess and the sorcerer could understand this sentiment, especially since with the baby arriving, that would mean more attention would have to fall on her for a while. Granted, they made certain to include the girls in everything that they were doing recently, but sometimes, a little extra family time didn't hurt.

"I think they just want to see more of their Mama," Cedric teased as he leaned over onto the bed, kissing her gently, before chuckling as they heard the rapid knocks at the door once again. "Something they've picked up from you, no doubt…"

She grinned at him. "Hey, was it my fault you always had the door closed?" She sighed happily as he rolled his eyes before moving over to their door, unlocking it, and allowing the girls inside. "Morning, girls!"

Nana grinned excitedly before rushing over to the bed, using the blankets to climb onto the mattress, then scooted closer to Sofia to cuddle next to her. Tanya followed her, though a bit calmer in her approach, and moved to sit next to Nana. Meanwhile, Cedric shut the door and returned to the bed, sliding in next to his daughters and wife.

"It is growing colder in the castle," Tanya pointed out. "I think our room is warmer though. Perhaps a heating spell is needed?"

Cedric nodded and yawned, settling under the covers again. "I'll look into it later today, my dear."

Nana observed Sofia for a few moments, her tiny hands reaching out to brush her hair out of her face, and then she placed a small kiss on the tip of her nose. After Sofia giggled at the action, she leaned down to kiss her mother's tummy, a routine she'd picked up in exchange of saying good morning to her future baby sister.

"Just a little while longer, Nana," Sofia reminded the pink-haired girl. "Sometime in January, you'll get to meet Serena." It had been a little difficult to judge this particular pregnancy, not only because it was her first one, but also because of what had occurred only a few weeks ago... She didn't want to think of it though. As long as the little one was healthy...

"I really like that name," Tanya mentioned, yawning and curling next to Cedric, who pulled her in for a hug. "It is lovely."

The princess caught her husband's eye, smiling warmly and secretively. "It is… In more ways than one."

Cedric smiled and reached over to her with a free hand, taking her hand and squeezing it gently.

Later that day, things seemed to be going fine. Everyone had eaten lunch. The workers were tending to the castle. Everything seemed to be business as usual. Until…

"Um, Desmond," Amber began as she finished brushing Alamea's hair, the little girl now giggling and bouncing on their bed. She caught the prince's eye and held a hand to her stomach. "I think…"

"O-Oh!" Desmond quickly scooped Alamea off the bed and placed her on the floor. "Alamea, do Daddy a favor, and go get Gramma and Pappa."

"Okay!" the little blonde sang happily as she zoomed energetically around the room before darting out her parents' door.

"You sure it was a good idea to send our toddler to get my parents?" Amber joked nearly breathlessly as Desmond hastened over to her, grasping her hand. "Ahh!"

"W-What?! Is the baby coming?!"

"No!" Amber reached behind her and picked up one of Desmond's botany books, scoffing and tossing it onto the floor. "A little light reading, Des?"

He smiled sheepishly as he pulled a clean handkerchief from his vest pocket and wiped her forehead. "H-Hang in there, Amber. You've done this before. It'll be fine."

The future queen laughed softly, the pain in her abdomen fading a bit. "Thanks for the pep talk, my dear husband…"

Cedric and Sofia were sitting with the girls, Cordelia, Nigel, Calista, and Angel in one of the common rooms and happened to see Roland and Miranda running by, following…Alamea?

"Dad, what's going on?" Sofia called, though she was not about to hurry after them herself, given her own situation.

"Amber's in labor!" he called back. "We'll keep you updated! Stay there!"

"No problem," Nigel remarked, snickering as Cordelia smacked him on the shoulder. "What? The whole 'birthing experience' doesn't sound like the most pleasant thing to witness."

"Try actually going through it," Cordelia retorted, and then she instantly regretted her words as she heard her sister-in-law hold her breath. "Ohh, but not for you, Sofia… No, no, things are going to be fine when you have your baby!" She shrugged. "Sure, it'll probably hurt, not just when you're having her, but also for a while after… And don't even think about—"

"C-Cordelia!" Cedric glared at his sister, gesturing toward the girls nearby. "Could you not?"

"I second Uncle Ceddy's sentiments, Mum," Calista declared, holding her hand to her head. "We don't need to hear about that, really."

Nana blinked innocently as the others continued chatting before reaching onto the tray in front of her, holding up quite possibly the biggest cookie she'd ever seen in her life. She happily set away to munching it, sugar coating her face as she did.

Sofia smiled and nudged Cedric, nodding toward their smaller daughter. "To be that unbothered again…"

He chuckled. "Indeed…"

Back in Desmond's and Amber's room, the blonde princess was close to tears as she held onto Miranda's hand, while Roland paced in the background, waiting anxiously for the medic to arrive. "I—I don't remember Alamea's birth being this painful," she whimpered, sighing as Miranda gently wiped her forehead with a cloth.

"Trust me, sweetie, it was," the queen laughed, smiling at the princess. "It's just been a few years and you've forgotten. It's the same pain."

"Thanks, Mom." She managed to laugh before looking toward her father. "Daddy, I love you, but if you keep pacing like that, I'm going to have you thrown out of here."

Roland immediately paused, smiling sheepishly at his daughter. "U-Um, sorry, Amber… I'm just…a little nervous. You're my baby girl…"

"About to have a baby herself, so calm down, Roland," Miranda chuckled. "It'll be fine." She blinked as Amber cried out again, squeezing a little too hard on her hand. "Ow! …Well, eventually…"

A few hours later, Desmond exited his and Amber's room, sweat collected on his brow as Alamea followed after him. He glanced down at the crowd gathered at the foot of the staircase, a short laugh escaping his lips as he saw the curious faces staring back at him. "A boy," he told them, shaking his head in humor as they smiled or cooed in excitement. "Just as blonde as Amber. Not sure on eye color yet."

"Yes!" James cheered, clapping his hands once as Vivian and Corban (in Vivian's hold) laughed. "Another boy! Awesome!"

"What's his name?" Sofia asked, holding onto the railing and Cedric's hand simultaneously.

"Dominic. Dominic Andrew."

"Aww," Calista said, giggling. "That's such a cute name!"

Desmond smiled as he leaned down and picked up Alamea, who wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you. We spent weeks trying to find the right name, and we happened to come across both in an old book that we both loved as a child: The Sparrow's Song."

"I remember that book," Sofia acknowledged, nodding. "Dominic the Deer, and Andrew the Antelope."

"And Samson the Sparrow," Cedric finished for her, laughing in surprise. "Turns out we all read the book."

"Well, most of us," Angel chuckled. "I have never heard of that book before, but I am happy for both you and Amber, Desmond."

"Thanks, Angel." He nodded toward Sofia, who sighed with a happy smile. "It will be your turn next, Sofia…"

She giggled as Tanya and Nana hugged her legs, and Cedric placed a kiss to her cheek. "And I can't wait…"

The end